FOCO Works

08/27/2026

What a great morning at Empower HER presented by Northeast Georgia Health System and in partnership with FOCO Works!

Today, women from across our community came together at World Park to connect, learn and support one another. From hearing from our speakers and making new connections to exploring opportunities with local employers, the morning was all about providing women the tools, resources and connections they need to thrive!

Thank you to everyone who joined us, our speakers who shared their time and experiences, the employers who participated in our career fair, and our sponsors who helped make the morning possible.

And the fun doesn’t stop here! Join us tomorrow evening for our Women Connect Wine Tasting at Grazey Girls! It’s another great opportunity to meet new people, catch up with familiar faces and grow your network, all while enjoying some great wine.

For more information click here: https://bit.ly/3Ss1XcY

We hope to see you there!

08/18/2026

This weeks Q3 Human Resource Council, presented by Riptide, LLC, was a huge success!

We heard from local leaders (Scott Feldkamp, Alice Collien and Sydney Lebouef) about the retention strategies that are making a real difference in their organizations. The conversation covered everything from being more intentional in recruiting and building a strong culture to preparing managers to lead their teams well.

One of our favorite things about our Human Resource Council is the opportunity to bring HR professionals together to learn from one another. There’s so much value in sharing what’s working, talking through common challenges, exchanging best practices and enjoying a meal together while we do it!

Thank you to our panelists, attendees, and our sponsors (Riptide, LLC, Kaiser Permanente and Dieffenbacher) for another great HRC. We’re already looking forward to the next one!

08/07/2026

Ready to take the next step in your career? Join us at the Empower HER Career Fair on Wednesday, August 26!

Connect with local employers, explore exciting career opportunities and meet organizations ready to help you move forward—whether you’re returning to the workforce, considering a career change or simply curious about what’s next.

📅 Wednesday, August 26
⏰ 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
📍 World Park | 190 Bluegrass Valley Parkway, Alpharetta
✨ Open to all job seekers!

When you register for the Career Fair, you’ll also receive a special discount code to attend Empower HER and take advantage of a morning filled with practical tools, meaningful connections and conversations designed to help women thrive.

Register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/empower-her-career-fair-tickets-1993488533868

FOCO Works was created to engage employers & community partners of Forsyth County Georgia.

08/03/2026

The future of Forsyth County’s electrical workforce starts with employers at the table. ⚡

This weeks Electrical Industry Roundtable brought local electrical contractors and industry leaders together to share honest feedback about the challenges they’re facing, the talent they need and how we can better connect the next generation with rewarding careers in the electrical trades.

Employer engagement is essential to building workforce solutions that work. Their insight will help FOCO Works and our community partners strengthen career awareness, align training with industry needs and build a stronger local talent pipeline.

This is workforce development in action: employers, educators and community partners listening, collaborating and turning conversations into solutions.

Thank you to every employer who shared their time, experience and ideas. Your voice is helping shape what comes next for Forsyth County’s electrical industry.

🔹 Upcoming Industry Roundtable:
HVAC Industry Roundtable | October 7

Learn more: https://www.focoworks.org/industry-roundtables

07/29/2026

You earned the degree. Now learn the skills no one taught you the ones that make you indispensable.

Communication, ownership, decision-making — these aren't things you master in a classroom. They're skills you build through reps: real feedback, real pressure, real practice. And they're exactly what separates the employees who get noticed from the ones who get overlooked.

This fall, FOCO Works is running a Professional Skills Workshop built for exactly that whether you're just starting out, job hunting, or looking to level up in your current role.

Session 1 — September 9: The Art of Communication
Session 2 — October 7: Taking Ownership: Time, Priorities & Follow-Through
Session 3 — November 5: Feedback and Decision Making

Each session runs 10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Cu***ng Recreation and Parks, with lunch and training materials included.

$75 per session, or $200 for the full series.

The degree got you in the room. These sessions help you become the person they can't afford to lose.

Reserve your spot: https://www.focoworks.org/professionalskillsworkshop

07/28/2026

What if exploring your future started with one click? 🚀

This week, our intern Sophie Baylard introduced the new FOCO Works Pathway Explorer—a resource created to help people discover the education and career opportunities available right here in Forsyth County!

The Pathway Explorer shows how programs offered through Forsyth County Schools, Lanier Technical College, and the University of North Georgia connect to real career pathways in our community.

Whether you’re a student wondering what comes next, a parent or educator helping someone plan for the future, a career changer exploring new possibilities, or an employer looking at our local talent pipeline—this tool was built for you.

It also helps us tell an important story: Forsyth County isn’t just growing. We’re intentionally building the workforce needed to support our community and attract the businesses of tomorrow.

We’re so excited to share it with you!
Explore the possibilities at - www. focoworkspathwayexplorer.com.

07/27/2026

This Plumbing Industry Roundtable was a powerful reminder that our workforce is stronger when we work together.

We brought local plumbing employers around the table to share honest feedback about the challenges they’re facing, the talent they need and the opportunities we have to better connect the next generation with careers in the skilled trades.

The insight and input from our employers will help shape how FOCO Works and our community partners support the plumbing industry from building greater awareness of career pathways to strengthening the local talent pipeline.

This is exactly what workforce development should look like: employers, educators and community partners listening, collaborating and turning conversations into action.

Thank you to every employer who joined us and shared their time, experience and ideas. We’re excited for what's ahead.

🔹 Upcoming Industry Roundtables:
Electrical Industry Roundtable - July 29th
HVAC Industry Roundtable - October 7th

Learn more at www.focoworks.org/industry-roundtables

07/17/2026

Retention isn't luck. It's leadership.

Join us for the Human Resource Council (Presented by Riptide, LLC) Q3 gathering, where a panel of local HR leaders will share what they're actually doing to keep their top talent, from the strategies that work to the ones they had to rethink.

42% of employee departures are preventable (Paycor, 2026).

Join us as Forsyth County's HR community compares notes, swaps what's working, and walks away with real ideas.

When: Wednesday, August 13th
Time: 11:30am-1pm
Where: Exovations Cu***ng, GA
Lunch is Included

Save your seat and bring your questions. This one's built for peer exchange, not a lecture.

Register Here - https://web.focochamber.org/events/Human-Resource-Council-Q3-9273/details

07/15/2026

✨ Leave inspired. Leave connected. Leave ready for what's next.

Whether you're launching your career, stepping into leadership, returning to the workforce, or simply looking for your next opportunity, Empower HER is designed to help you build meaningful connections, gain practical skills, and leave energized for your next chapter.

Spend the morning learning alongside incredible women from across our Forsyth County, expanding your professional network, and connecting directly with employers at our Career Fair, featuring organizations actively looking for talent.

You'll gain practical tools to:
💼 Invest in Your Next Chapter — Hear from Jennifer Herring and Shawna Cohen on how to navigate career growth and new opportunities with confidence.
🤖 Work Smarter with AI — Discover practical AI tools that can help you work more efficiently and stay ahead in today's workplace.
💰 How Money Works for Women — Learn strategies to build confidence and take control of your financial future from Kim Scouller

Whether you're looking to grow where you are, explore a career change, or simply recharge with an inspiring community of women, Empower HER is for you.

Empower HER Details:
📅 August 26th, 2026
🕣 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
📍 World Park-190 Bluegrass Valley Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30005
Register today- https://web.focochamber.org/events/Empower-Her-9287/details

07/02/2026

Calling All College Interns! Looking to grow your professional network this summer?

Join and the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce for our College Interns & Industry Mixer on Tuesday, July 14!

Connect with local business and community leaders, meet fellow interns, and discover the career opportunities that make Forsyth County a great place to build your future.

Whether you're exploring career paths, making professional connections, or looking for what's next after graduation, this is an event you won't want to miss!

:link: Register today: https://web.focochamber.org/events/FoCos-Interns-Industry-Mixer-in-partnership-with-FOCO-Works-9278/details